I Was a Loner, but My Class Got Summoned to Another World…

As he began draining each crystal, Roland felt the swirl of energy around him. It wasn't like before—his body glowed gold, and he truly felt as if he could take on hundreds, even thousands, of demons.

It was strange how much power just one spirit could provide.

He wanted to go out and test it immediately. His mind buzzed with this newfound strength.

He was no longer weakened as he was this morning.

With each fruit he drained, he slowly regained everything he had lost and so much more.

"I think that's all I can give you, Hero. Even if Elios wants you to have more, my lady Silmira wouldn't allow it. It's time for you to leave this place and return," Fernus said.

What the little spirit said nearly angered Roland.

For a brief second, he felt as though he could punch the spirit away and it would simply vanish.

But he didn't act on it.

Instead, he sighed, troubled by how his personality had shifted—like waking up and realizing he was someone else.

"All right. Lead the way. I'll go back," he said.

Roland tried to analyze himself. Yes, he had gained power—but he didn't want that power to come at the cost of changing who he was.

He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm within his mind.

His emotions felt heightened to the point of making him go crazy.

"There you go, Hero. Pass through this portal and you'll return. We'll await your next visit. I hope things go well in your world," Fernus said.

Roland nodded, now understanding that the small spirit only wished him well.

"Will do… thanks."

His emotions were still in disarray. He rushed through the portal, hoping that just by entering it might restore his mental inbalance—but when he arrived on the other side, nothing had changed with his feelings.

"That was faster than I expected, Hero," the voice greeted him. "Elios is difficult to deal with, but he's among the best. Please, take care mastering your new power. While I did bond you with a perfect spirit my first time, it was not as strong as Elios… so the experience might differ."

Roland nodded and bowed slightly, as if standing before a leader.

[Elios… remember not only the creed, but the rules of the pact we make…]

It was then that Roland's emotions began to stabilize. He started to feel… normal again.

[Good. Now, Hero, try to adjust to your strength a little. I'll cast a ward for you to train while the young princess completes her own trial.]

Roland nodded—this time as himself. The real him.

"Yes, I'd like to see what I'm capable of. Thank you, Great Spirit Silmira."

He was directed toward a small barrier of light. Upon entering, it felt as though he had stepped into a new world. Even if nothing had truly changed, it felt surreal—like being dropped into a virtual reality. The surroundings turned red and dim, resembling the dark skies of demon lands.

He soon spotted silhouettes of demons rushing toward him from a distance.

Readying himself, he realized there were no weapons being provided. Yet the spirit Elios seemed to be guiding him directly now, proactively revealing what needed to be done.

As the first wave of enemies approached, the name of a skill came to him instinctively: Lumen Vortex. It was an area-of-effect technique, powerful enough to deal with multiple foes at once.

He released the glowing vortex of energy above him. It split into beams of light that surged forward in every direction, exploding on impact and disintegrating anything deemed an enemy into dust.

But not all were caught in the blast.

Those who remained continued their charge.

Roland didn't cower. Instead, he activated Halo Ascendance, a skill that boosted his speed and dramatically enhanced his light-infused physical strikes. He cast it effortlessly, as though he'd always known how.

Next, he used Solar Edge. While it was more effective with a weapon, he channeled it through his bare hands. They ignited in golden light—so bright even he struggled to look at them.

He dashed forward, punching several demons with swift, decisive blows. They might have been illusions, but they felt real—each one had weight and presence. Even so, he knew not to stray too far. All his attacks had to remain within the radius of the dome.

Each strike scorched through his enemies as if searing plasma had torn them apart. And yet, his hands remained unharmed.

His mana, however, was draining rapidly.

He moved faster.

Then a massive demon beast charged, lowering its head to strike him with a crushing headbutt.

Roland didn't flinch.

This time, he used Aurelic Barrier—a ward of light formed instantly before him. It absorbed the brunt of the creature's force, halting its momentum on impact, as if he had hit a steel wall.

Without pause, Roland lunged forward and struck.

His fist sank into the beast's skull from crown to jaw, killing it on the spot.

It was then that the illusion ended. Roland exhaled heavily, breathing in and out in ragged bursts. He liked this new power—and the energy that came with it. He could probably have kept fighting for another hour, easily enough to wipe out all those enemies in the illusion.

Exiting the small dome created for his trial, he smiled at the Great Spirit.

"Thank you. I still feel sorry for the spirit I let down, but I believe I can do more now. I can truly play my part in this war."

Silmira stood silently for a moment before offering a gentle nod.

"Yes. You will do well, Hero. Just remember—control your emotions."

Roland nodded, then turned his gaze to the side—where his beloved stood, waiting for him. Stella looked at him as if she had been holding her breath the whole time.

"I see you've grown stronger," he said softly. "Your hair… It's more radiant. And your aura, too, Stella."

The girl stepped forward slowly and placed a hand against his face.

"Yes, I've improved as well. I'll support you now, Roland. I may not be the best fighter, but I can be your shield at the very least. And you've changed too… your brown hair—it's turned gold. And your eyes… they're golden now too. But they're still gentle."

Roland blinked. He hadn't realized. There wasn't a mirror or anything to cast a reflection, so he couldn't see his new changes.

"Do you still like it, at least?" he asked with a hint of mock concern, clearly teasing her.

"Yes, of course," she replied, smiling. "You'll always be the best one for me… hey, that smile!"

Stella playfully smacked his chest as Roland finally broke into a grin he could no longer hold back. The two shared a moment before quickly remembering where they were.

"Silmira," Roland said, turning back to the glowing figure of the spirit. "Thank you for the power you've given me. I'll hold up my end of our deal. I'll help clear this forest of every last demon."

The silhouette of the spirit, wrapped in flowing light, gave a slow, graceful nod.

With that, they left the sanctuary—riding back, stronger than when they had come. They passed through the barrier, exited the forest, and returned to the large fortress where the settlement awaited them with visible anticipation.

"Should we make a grand display, just in case there's a demon spy watching?" Roland asked Stella, a grin tugging at his lips. "To announce that we've returned stronger than ever?"

Stella nodded and helped him by casting a large area of effect purifying spell, while Roland activated Radiant Reprisal in a way it was never meant to be used.

Elios—the spirit from whom Roland had drawn his power—seemed eager to showcase the might of light. What was normally a minor flash exploded into a blinding surge, illuminating the area like another sun.

It paved the way for Stella's wide-area purification spell, which followed moments later.

Her magic cleansed the land itself. Even the dead, cracked floor began to heal, slowly returning mana to the surrounding forest blessed by the light spirits.

Grass began to grow, green a lush, making all those looking gasp with anticipation.

But it was Roland's burst that changed everything.

Those who witnessed it felt its power—most rose to their feet as if called to worship, feeling their strength renewed.

The weak and the broken within the camp, those who were held captive and tortured for years and knew about suffering and malnutrition, felt themselves restored—not fully, but enough to stand straighter, to feel hope again.

Three, however, reacted differently.

They fell to the ground, writhing like worms—squirming, twitching, and smoking from the radiant energy burning within them.

"Traitors! Spies! Kill them!" someone shouted.

One was a soldier. Another, a farmer they'd picked up weeks ago. The last—a girl who had posed as a former captive—revealed her true form: blue wings extended, tail lashing, horns rising from her head as her disguise melted away.

Mobs formed immediately, fueled by rage and betrayal. They rushed forward, ready to finish them off in their weakened, exposed, burning state.

But Roland stepped in, raising his hand to stop both the mob and the purification.

"Wait," he called, voice booming over the crowd. "Let them go!"

The crowd hesitated.

"We need the demons to know we are no longer afraid. Let these three return. Let them be the seeds of doubt that will waver their confidence!"

The people turned toward him, confused… then slowly, some began to nod.

A few still tried to push through, but others held them back.

"Hero! Hero! Hero!" they began to chant.

The demons didn't need to be told twice. Still smoldering from the holy light, they fled—flying, sprinting, dragging their burned limbs out of the camp. They knew they would not be spared a second time.

Their escape became a symbol.

As cheers rose louder, the message was clear: We are not afraid anymore.

Stella stopped her mount beside Roland, stopping her use of the great spell. The air was quiet again, but filled with warmth and life once again.

"Do you… Ha, do you think it was the right choice?" she asked softly, her breath ragged.

Roland turned to her, smiling with such radiance that she had her answer without a single word.

"Of course we'll take Elris back," Roland said firmly. "We'll find your brother, Stella. Then we'll move through all the lands—recovering each one, step by step. This time, I know I can do it. I was shackled before… but now I'm free."

The two entered the camp together. The king beamed with joy at the changes he saw in his daughter.

As for Roland, he wasted no time. He began preparing his troops—not all of them, just the best.

The elite he knew well. They'd had more than enough time to rest while he was away.

Within the hour, they were mounted and ready for the first of many assaults.

Roland and Stella stood at the front of the formation, their presence commanding and resolute. Even their two birds—who had accompanied them to the forest—had been personally enhanced by Silmira, their strength and endurance now far beyond what they once were.

They no longer had to worry about their mounts or hold on to any hesitation.

The march to reclaim the lands had begun in earnest.